Blood Type O Meal Plans

Steak and salad might be a typical meal for people with type O blood on the Blood Type diet.

People with type O blood should eat plenty of lean meat, fish and vegetables, says Blood Type diet creator Peter D'Adamo. In his book, "Eat Right 4 Your Type," D'Adamo claims that type O individuals inherited specific blood cell antibodies from their ancient ancestors, the prehistoric hunter-gatherers. If people with this blood type eat foods their ancestors didn't eat -- particularly dairy products and grains like corn or wheat -- D'Adamo says their blood cells will react with lectins in the food, increasing their risk of obesity, diabetes, thyroid problems and ulcers. Katherine Zeratsky, a dietitian with the Mayo Clinic, says the Blood Type diet isn't based on scientific evidence. Don't start the diet until you've spoken to your doctor.

Breakfast

According to EveryDiet, a typical breakfast on a blood type O meal plan might consist of toasted Ezekiel bread spread with butter, vegetable juice, fresh fruit and herbal tea. While most cereal grains aren't recommended for type O people, Ezekiel bread, which is prepared from sprouted grains like spelt, soybeans, barley, millet and wheat, is acceptable, says D'Adamo. Essene bread can also be used. The best fruits for type O people are cherries, plums, figs and prunes, though fruit like apples, bananas, pears, peaches, grapes and kiwi can be eaten up to two times a week.

Lunch

Lunch for a type O person on the Blood Type diet could be a spinach salad topped with slices of lean beef and paired with fresh fruit. D'Adamo advises that beef, lamb and venison are the best choices for people with type O blood, though rabbit and poultry like turkey, duck or chicken can be eaten a few times weekly. Choose lean, organic cuts whenever possible and use extra-virgin olive oil for cooking, basting or marinating. Other salad vegetables that are recommended for type O people include dandelion greens, escarole, romaine lettuce and Swiss chard.

Dinner

Fresh fish is highly recommended for type O people on the Blood Type diet, and dinner could consist of grilled fish with a variety of steamed or roasted vegetables. Seafood such as red snapper, salmon, cod, halibut, sole, mackerel and pike are supposedly the most beneficial, but flounder, mahi mahi and shellfish like mussels, clams, crab, shrimp and lobster are also fine occasionally. D'Adamo advises that type O people should include plenty of beets, broccoli, onions, sweet potatoes, turnips and okra in their diet, while avoiding cabbage, eggplant, mushrooms, red or white potatoes, cauliflower and corn.

Snacks

A snack on the Blood Type diet for a person with type O blood could include fresh fruit, sliced raw vegetables, gluten-free cake, roasted pumpkin seeds or walnuts. Sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, macadamia nuts and rice cakes can be eaten one or two times a week, but D'Adamo cautions that type O people should strictly avoid peanuts, pistachios and fruits like cantaloupe, strawberries, blackberries or tangerines, as well as any product that contains refined sugar.

What's your dietary preference?

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Broccoli

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These are some proteins you can eat on a Paleo diet. Which do you like?

About the Author

Michelle Kerns writes for a variety of print and online publications and specializes in literature and science topics. She has served as a book columnist since 2008 and is a member of the National Book Critics Circle. Kerns studied English literature and neurology at UC Davis.

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